(Miami, Fla.) The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is thrilled to host the South Florida Regional Powerhouse Luncheon on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at Jungle Island in Miami. The event, designed to provide exclusive industry insights and share tips to build a sustaining career, will feature Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, National Restaurant Association President/CEO Dawn Sweeney, American Hotel and Lodging Association President/CEO Katherine Lugar and FRLA President/CEO Carol Dover.

“I am thrilled to be on a panel with so many incredibly talented leaders who are filled with invaluable knowledge about success and specifically, our hospitality industry,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “I feel humbled to share the stage with them and look forward to experiencing it with all of our colleagues in South Florida who are eager to learn and build on the momentum of our state’s record-breaking achievements.”

Carlos Lopez-Cantera is the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Florida. He is the first Hispanic elected to hold this position in Florida. He has been part of the team that has brought over 850,000 jobs to the state, lowered taxes for Florida families, reduced government regulation and increased education spending and achievement for Florida’s students, including making higher education more affordable for Florida’s students and veterans.

As President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, Dawn Sweeney has been instrumental in focusing the mission of the association through a unique, multi-year strategic plan, highlighting key areas of opportunity within the restaurant industry. Before joining the National Restaurant Association, Sweeney was president and CEO of AARP Services. Her 25+ years of marketing, advocacy and policy experience also include leadership positions at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the International Dairy Foods Association.

As the head executive of AH&LA, Katherine Lugar implements and directs AH&LA’s services and works directly with the volunteer officers and board of directors in determining the industry’s major strategic initiatives. In addition, Lugar also oversees AH&LA’s two affiliate organizations, the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) and the Educational Institute (EI). Lugar has more than 20 years of experience in private sector public affairs, working on Capitol Hill and previously served as executive vice president, public affairs, with the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).

Carol Dover has served as President and CEO of FRLA since July of 1995. Dover is a professional association manager, a lobbyist and a former government insider. After graduating from Florida State University, Dover accepted the position of Assistant Director of the Beer Industry of Florida. In 1989, she was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the Governor, serving under the Martinez administration. Dover’s other professional accomplishments include positions at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation Director of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, she was the first woman to serve as Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, State Fire Marshall’s Office, and President/CEO of the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association.

Media is invited to attend this event, the schedule is as follows:

WHAT:
FRLA’s South Florida Regional Powerhouse Luncheon

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera

INDUSTRY PANELISTS:
Carol Dover, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association President and CEO
Dawn Sweeney, National Restaurant Association President and CEO
Katherine Lugar, American Hotel & Lodging Association President and CEO

About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging AssociationFRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, September 27-29, 2016 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.